News and events

The 2017 Minnesota Legislature directed the Department of Human Services (DHS) to analyze the costs and benefits of implementing an insurance billing system for the mental health services provided through the DHS Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services Division (DHHSD) regional offices. The DHHSD mental health program does not currently bill for its services. DHS hired an independent consulting agency, Minnesota Management Analysis and Development (MAD), to analyze the costs and benefits, prepare a report, and make recommendations from its findings.

Claire Wilson, assistant commissioner of the DHS Community Supports Administration, recently sent an email to key DHS Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services Division stakeholders, with a recap of 2017 state legislation affecting Minnesotans who are deaf, deafblind and hard of hearing. The email also provide an update on the process to select a new director of the division following the retirement of David Rosenthal, who has held the position most recently.

In response to recent questions about studies conducted by the Minnesota Department of Human Services Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services Division in the summer of 2016, David Rosenthal, director of the division, wrote a letter to community members explaining the process for completing the studies and which organizations and individuals were involved. DHS director responds to questions about study of deaf services (PDF)

MNsure offers free face-to-face application and enrollment assistance, called brokers or navigators. Brokers provide face-to-face enrollment assistance and advice to help you select a private health plan. Navigators offer free face-to-face application and enrollment assistance, and specialize in Medical Assistance and Minnesota Care application assistance. Certified brokers and navigators are available throughout the state to help you with enrollment.

You can find an assister near you or who speaks ASL (or other languages) using the MNsure Assister Directory. If there are no assisters who speak ASL near you, you can contact MNsure’s Accessibility and Equal Opportunity (AEO) office to request an interpreter or other communication access. You can contact the MNsure AEO office at: AEO@MNsure.org, or by calling the MNsure Contact Center at 1-855-366-7873.

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Terminology disclaimer
The terminology used to describe people with disabilities has changed over time. The Minnesota Department of Human Services (“Department”) supports the use of “People First” language. Although outmoded and offensive terms might be found within documents on the Department’s website, the Department does not endorse these terms.